Hard Times/Hard War. Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Educational Packet, Grades 9-12

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AUTHOR Elkins, Kenneth; Patrick, Jeff TITLE Hard Times/Hard War. Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Educational Packet, Grades 9-12. Second Edition. INSTITUTION National Park Service (Dept. of Interior), Republic, MO. Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. SPONS AGENCY National Park Foundation, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 1999-00-00 NOTE 31p.; Prepared and revised by the staff of Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. For related documents on Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, see SO 031 283-285. Accompanying map not available from ERIC. AVAILABLE FROM Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, 6424 West Farm Road 182, Republic, Missouri 65738. Tel: 417-732-2662. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom - Learner (051) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Civil War (United States); Curriculum Enrichment; Field Trips; *Heritage Education; High Schools; Historic Sites; *History Instruction; *Primary Sources; Social Studies; *State History; United States History IDENTIFIERS *Wilsons Creek National Battlefield MO

ABSTRACT This educational packet contains information about Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (Republic, Missouri), the site of a bitter 1861 struggle between Union and Confederate forces for control of Missouri. The packet contains the following materials:(1) Educational Group Reservation Form;(2) Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Movement Maps (six maps detailed chronologically to show troop locations and movements during the battle); (3) "The Struggle for Missouri: Lyon's Campaign and the Battle of Wilson's Creek" (an account by Leo Huff of the events and personalities that led to the battle provides necessary background for the academic activities included in the packet);(4) Outline of the Traveling Trunk Program (for classes that cannot visit the park or for those who want reinforcement, each trunk contains a collection of items suitable for demonstrations or hands-on activities);(5) Pre-Visit Activities (activities 1-4 are organized in order of increasing complexity for grades 9-12);(6) Outline of Battlefield Visit; (7) Visit Activity;(8) Post-Visit Activities (activities 5 and 6); (9) Suggested Readings (12 items); and (10) Comments and Suggestions.(BT)

Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. A it A

HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDU ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Niffirsi-oT Minor changes have been made to NATIONAL improve reproduction quality PARK Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessar ly represent SERVICES official OERI position or policy

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Educational Packet Grades 9-122 BEST COPYAVAILABLE HARD TIMES/HARDWAR

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Educational Packet Grades 9-12

Kenneth Elkins

This second edition of the Educational Packet for high schoolstudents was prepared and revised by Kenneth Elkins, Jeff Patrick, and the staff of Wilson'sCreek National Battlefield.

GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. 3 INTRODUCTION/COMMENTS

HOW TO USE YOUR SCHOOL PACKET FROM WILSON'S CREEK NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

A. INTRODUCTION: This packet is organized to help you make the most ofyour study of and visit to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. Feel free to pick and choose from the provided materials dependingupon your particular circumstances. To reserve a video or one of the travelling trunks or to acquire one of the other educational packets, pleasesee the EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REQUEST FORM in the EDUCATORS' GUIDE TO THE BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK.

B. CONTENTS:

1. EDUCATIONAL GROUP RESERVATION FORM. This form is necessary if your class(es) are going to visit Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.Please note the guidelines at the bottom of the sheet.

2. WILSON'S CREEK NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD TROOP MOVEMENT MAPS. The six detailed maps herein chronologically show troop locations andmovements during the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

3. THE STRUGGLE FOR MISSOURI: LYON'S CAMPAIGN AND THE BATTLE OF WILSON'SCREEK. This short but detailed account by Leo Huff of the events and personalities that ledto the Battle of Wilson's Creek provides the necessary background for the academic activities included in this packet. A somewhat differentperspective on these events, THE BATTLE: A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK, by KennethElkins, may also prove useful in completing these activities and can be found in the EDUCATORS' GUIDE.

4. OUTLINE OF THE TRAVELLING TRUNK PROGRAM. For those teachers who cannot visit the park,or who wish to reinforce concepts learned either before or during their battlefield visit, a Travelling Trunk is available for loan. Each trunk contains a collection of reproduction items suitablefor demonstrations and/or hands-on activities related to daily life for common soldiers during the Civil War. Alsoincluded are descriptions of the uses of each specific item as well as some suggested classroom activities. Please call the battlefieldabout reserving one of these trunks.

5. PRE-VISIT ACTIVITIES. Activities numbered one through four are organized in order of increasing complexityfor grades 9.12. Beyond copying them as necessary, please feel free to adiust or expand these as appropriate to your particular classroomsituation. For your convenience,an answer sheet can be found following the Visit Activity.

6. OUTLINE OF BATTLEFIELD VISIT. National Park Service personnel will be glad to answerany questions you might have during your visit.

7. VISIT ACTIVITY. As with the other activities, this is optional. It might, however, allowsome or all of your students to make better use of their tour of the Visitor Center.

8. POST-VISIT ACTIVITIES. As with number five above, use Activities five and sixas appropriate.

9. SUGGESTED READINGS. If you are interested in other aspects of the Civil War, National Park Servicepersonnel will be glad to refer you to additional written works and/or bibliographical materials.

10. COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS. To help us better serve you in the future, please takea moment to complete this short form and return it to the park. Further, if you have any immediate concerns duringyour visit, do not hesitate to share them with National Park Service personnel.

4 EDUCATIONAL GROUP RESERVATIONFORM

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield 6424 W. Farm Road 182Republic, Missouri 65738(417) 732-2662

Date of reservation request: Reservation received by: Name of teacher: Name of school: Address of school: Phone number of school:

CONFIRMATION FOR VISIT TO WILSON'S CREEK NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD:

Date: Time: Grade(s): # of Students: # of Adults: Picnic Area: Yes No Self-guided Auto Tour: YesNo Special Needs:

VISIT GUIDELINES:

* The teacher(s) is(are) responsible for the conduct of their studentsand must remain with their students during their visit. * The school will provide one adult for each ten students. * The entrance fee is waived for educationalgroups. Please see below. *If you need to reschedule or cancel your visit, please contact thebattlefield as soon as possible. *If you are interested in reserving a video, a grade-specific educationalpacket, or one of our travelling trunks before your visit to Wilson's Creek, pleaseuse the following Educational Materials Request Form. * The staff at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is looking forwardto your upcoming visit. We hope that it will be a most enjoyable and educational experience.

I have read the program guidelines listed above andagree to comply with these standards during our visit.I also request a waiver of the entrance fee formy group, as our visit to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is educational in nature.

Signature Date

5 The Struggle for Missouri:Lyon's Campaign and the Battle of Wilson's Creek By Leo E. Huff

THE STATE IN TURMOIL of Ft. Sumter in mid-April gave the expected impulse to the secession movement, and Gov. Jackson met Lincoln's callfor troops to put The Civil War in Missouri was truly a civil down the insurrection with an insulting refusal. war within a war as brother fought brother and The secessionists had designs on the 60,000 friend fought friend. The majority of the muskets, powder and cannon in the St. Louis people in Missouri were pro-Union, but by a nar- arsenal, which stood on low ground near the row margin.More military engagements were river and was open to attack. While his superi- fought in Missouri than in any other state, with or, Gen. William Harney, was absent, Lyon, with the exceptions of Virginia and Tennessee.(A presidential approval, secretly arranged with military engagement can be a fight ranging in Gov. Yates of Illinois to send militia across the size from a small cavalry patrol action to a river on the nightofApril25. Lyon had large-scale battle.) everythinginreadiness and threw open the After Abraham Lincoln's electionto the arsenal gates as the militia swarmed ashore. presidency in November 1860, South Carolina Most of the arms and ammunition were then seceded from the Union in December, and in the hurriedly loaded on a steamboat and taken to next six weeks, six more states from the lower Alton, out of reach of the secessionists.Lyon South seceded. In February 1861, delegates now fortified the arsenal grounds and strength- from these seven states met in Montgomery, ened the loyal St. Louis Home Guard. Alabama, and formed the government of the Confederate States of America. Meanwhile, Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson, an active seces- BLOODSHED IN ST. LOUIS sionist, worked hard to carry Missouri out of the Union. Most of the aristocratic St. Louis families Withtheprospectsofcivilwarrising sympathized with the Confederacy, and many of throughout the nation, both North and South them were members oftheMissouriState began preparingfortheinevitable conflict, Militia.In early May, Gov. Jackson ordered even before Lincoln's inaugurationin March. these men, who were commanded by Gen. D. M. Fearing seizure of the federal arsenal at St. Frost, to muster for a few days of "training." Louis by pro-Southern state forces, the U.S. About 700 men respondedto thecalland government transferred Capt. Nathaniel Lyon established Camp Jackson,inhonor of Gov. and his company of the 2nd U.S. Infantry from Jackson, on the western edge of St.Louis. Ft. Riley, Kansas, to St. Louis to protect the Jackson hoped that the troops at the camp arsenal. This force arrivedinSt. Louisin might eventually be used to capture the arsenal, February.Also in February, a state convention and arranged to have Confederate arms and elected to consider federal relations, voted 89- ammunition smuggled into the camp. to- Ithat Missouri had no cause to dissolve her Lyon, in his puritanical zeal and hatred of connections with the Union. slavery,preparedtoattack Camp Jackson, When thelegislature and the convention which he viewed as a great menace. On May adjourned bytheendofMarch,thestate 10, while his superior was again absent, Lyon apparently was committed to the Union.But surrounded Camp Jackson with several thousand the extremists who rallied around Gov. Jackson loyaltroops and made the militia prisoners. demanded a belligerent policy.The surrender The Northern press now hailed Lyon as a hero

6 whose resolute action had saved the state for Blair and Lyon now took steps to disrupt the the Union. But this day wasone of the blackest truce that Harney had worked out with Price, in St. Louis history.Instead of paroling the by which the state would not arm further. disarmed militia, Lyon marched the prisoners On June II, Blair and Lyon held a confer- through the streets of St. Louis back to the ence with Price and Gov. Jackson in St. Louis. arsenal. Excited and resentful Southern sympa- Both sides made demands which the other would thizers poured into the streets and lined the not meet.Lyon closed the meeting by sum- route.Insults and then stones, bricks, and other marily ordering Jackson and Price outside his objects werehurledatthe Unionsoldiers lines.They immediately left the city, Jackson guarding the prisoners. Finally, shots were returning to Jefferson City and Price into the fired at the Union column, killing and wounding field to rally his troops. several soldiers.The troops fired back indis- criminately and 28 people were killed.Blood was shed in the streets, and Missouri was now THE FIRST BATTLE IN MISSOURI given over to four years of violence and cruel AT BOONVILLE intersectional warfare. In response to the incident at Camp Jackson, Lyon, with about 2,000 men on steamboats, the state legislature passed a bill creating the moved up the river to Jefferson City. Gov. pro-Confederate State Guard. Gov. Jackson Jackson and his sympathizers evacuated the acted with energy to throw Missouri into the capital on June 14, whereupon Lyon moved in Confederacy, and appointed former governor the next day. Then Lyon followed Jackson's Sterling Price as major general in command of small force to Boonville, where on June 17 the the pro-secessionist State Guard.Secessionist first of nearly 1,100 skirmishes in Missouri took forces seemed to dominate most of the state place, roughly one-sixth of the entire number to outside of St.Louis, and some of them in be fought in the war. irregular bands drove Union men from their Byputtingthegovernorandthepro- homes and initiated guerrilla activities which in Southern portion of the legislature to flight, time seemed likely to make one-half of Missouri Lyonforcedthesecessioniststooperate a desert. without a base, money, or legal footing. At the same time, Lyon had given Missouri Unionists time to set up a new state government that GENERAL LYON IN COMMAND would cooperate with Washington, and on July 31, pro-Union Hamilton Gamble was elected Meanwhile, Gen. Harney returnedto St. governor by a state convention. On the other Louis and did his best to restore public calm and hand, Lyon had now destroyed any possibility of confidence with moderate policies.Lyon and compromise. No longer could Missourians hope Frank Blair, Jr., a prominent St. Louis politician to settle their differences at the conference and a staunchUnionist,were outragedat table.Lyon had forced everyone to take sides. Harney's moderate course and tried to discredit Thanks to Lyon and his secessionist counterpart, him.During May, Blair began pulling strings in Gov. Jackson, who was equally stubborn, bloody WashingtonforHarney'sremoval andthe and bitter civil war had begun in Missouri. appointment of Lyon in his place. The powerful Blairfamilyhadconsiderableinfluencein Washington, and Frank's brother, Montgomery SIGEL'S DEFEAT AT CARTHAGE Blair, was Lincoln's postmaster general. Finally, Lincoln yielded to pressure and sent After the Battle of Boonville,the state Frank Blair an order for Harney's removal in the troops under Col. J.S. Marmaduke and Gov. event of an extreme emergency. On May 31, Jackson retreated southward toward Cowskin Harney was dismissed and Lyon was appointeda Prairieinthe southwest corner of the state brigadier general. where Gen. Price was gathering other State

7 Guard forces.Meanwhile, before leaving St. Sweeny scattered about 150 State Guard troops Louis, Lyon had ordered U.S. Army Capt. and stationed in Forsyth and occupied the town for recently-elected MissouriBrig. Gen. Thomas about 24 hours before returning to Springfield. Sweeny tolead a column of troops to the In the meantime, the Missouri secessionists southwest part of the state to block any move were making plans to attack the Federals in south by Missouri State Guard forces. Col. Springfield. Brig. Gen. McCulloch, of Texas, FranzSigel,withtwoMissourivolunteer commanding a brigade of Confederate troops in infantry regiments and an artillery battery, led northwest Arkansas, had been ordered by the the column and arrived in Springfield on June Confederate government to go to the aid of the 24. A few days later, on July I, Sweeny arrived Missouri secessionists.On July 25, Maj. Gen. in Springfield with 1,500 troops. Sterling Price,in command ofthe Missouri When Sigel received news of the retreat of State Guard, began moving his troops from the thegovernor'sforcefromBoonville, he Cowskin Prairie in McDonald County, toward determined to intercept it and prevent it from Cassville. Joined by a brigade of Arkansas forming a juncture with the other forces in the State troops under Brig. Gen. N. B. Pearce, southwest, thus allowing Lyon, who was slowly McCulloch also began the march into southwest following Jackson, to attack the rear. Sigel Missouri for a rendezvous with Price.So the immediately set out along the Mt. Vernon road Southern army assembling near Cassvillewas to Carthage, 65 miles to the west, with the 3rd reallycomposed ofthreeseparate small and5thRegimentsofMissouriVolunteers, armies:a brigade of Confederate troops under accompanied by a company of regulars and the McCulloch, a brigade of Arkansas State troops eight piecesofBackoff'sMissouri Light under Pearce, and the Missouri State Guard Artillery Battalion. Meanwhile, on July 3, Lyon under Price. with about 2,000, left Boonville in pursuit of the governor. Before Lyon could render any assistance, THE DUG SPRINGS AFFAIR Sigel was defeated at Carthage on July 5 by the State Guards under Gov. Jackson, and forced to Through his numerous and faithful scouts fall back to Mt. Vernon and then Springfield. and spies, Gen. Lyon was aware of the concen- By this time, Lyon had been reinforced by Maj. tration of the Southern troops at Cassville and S. D. Sturgis arriving from Kansas City with a of their intention of marching on Springfield. 1,600-man brigade consisting of regular cavalry Erroneously believing that the rebel columns and infantry troops, and Kansas City volun- would not unite untilnear Springfield, Lyon teers.Hearing of Sigel's defeat, Lyon began a determined to march south down the Telegraph forced march and arrived in Springfield on July or Old Wire Road, with his little army of 5,868 13,while Gov. Jackson continued south and men and three artillery batteries of 18 pieces, joined Price on Cowskin Prairie. in an attempt to defeat the Southern forces in detail before they could combine.But first he sent more messages to Maj. Gen. John C. Fre- THE OPPOSING ARMIES ASSEMBLE mont, the new Federal commander in Missouri, begging for reinforcements.Fremont, preoc- Gen. Lyon, after having assumed command cupied with his own plans for the defense of the of all Federal troops in southwest Missouri, set eastern portion of the state, refused.Leaving about reorganizing his little army, and fired off behindaforce ofseveralhundredcivilian requeststoSt.LouisandWashingtonfor volunteers and Home Guards to protect Spring- reinforcements and supplies. On July 20, he field, Lyon began his movement toward Cass- sent Gen. Sweeny with a 1,200-man task force ville in the afternoon of Aug.I, camping that consisting of artillery, cavalry, and infantry to night 10 miles southwest of Springfield on the break up a secession camp reported to be at banks of the little stream that would be the Forsyth.In a sharp little skirmish on July 22, scene of a bitter battle a few days later.The

8 next morning, Aug. 2, Lyon continued his march of the three separate Southern armies and lead south down the Wire Road.About 5 p.m., the the attack on Springfield.Believing that the army halted at Dug Springs, approximately one Federals werestillatCurran PostOffice, mile south of present-day Clever, havingcome McCulloch issued orders fora surprise attack, upon the Southern army's advance guard con- and was chagrined to learn that Lyon'sarmy had sisting of several hundred mounted Missourians evacuated its camp about 20 hours earlier and commanded by Gen. James Rains. One mile or was falling back to Springfield. Nevertheless, so further south, a skirmish took place in an McCulloch decided to make a forced march in oblong valley between Lyon's advance guard of an effortto overtake Lyon's retreating col- combined arms and Rains' Missourians.In this umn. By the time the Southern troops went into "Dug Springs Affair," or "Rains' Scare" as Gen. camp at Moody's Spring, the general realized McCulloch called it, both sides sustained a few that the Federals had escaped. Learning of casualties.Rains' troops were routed and fled good camping grounds and corn fields several southward in a panic to the main Southern army miles ahead where the Telegraph Road crossed encamped along Crane Creek. McCulloch made Wilson Creek, McCulloch ordered the march derisive remarks about "Rains' Scare" later in renewed on Aug. 6.After a short march, the hisreport,andexpressedlittleconfidence Southerners halted and went into camp along afterwardinthe mounted Missourians. The both sides of Wilson Creek, whichran generally next morning, Aug. 3, the Federals resumed the in a north-south direction. advance, going as far as Curran Post Office,or After two days of fruitless reconnoitering, McCulla'sStore,aboutonthe countyline sometimes by McCulloch personally, to between Stone and Barry counties, and 26 miles determine the Federal strength and position, from Springfield.At Curran, some three miles Price on Aug. 8 finally received news from two from Dug Springs, the Federals encountereda women that Lyon was preparing to evacuate small secessionist patrol, which was scattered Springfield. An irate Price, impatient with by a few artillery rounds.By this time, Lyon McCulloch'sdelay,demanded animmediate apparently became aware thatthe Southern attack. McCulloch reluctantly agreed, and forces had united, and decided to return to issued orders for the soldiers to be ready to Springfield before he could be outflanked. On marchonSpringfieldat 9 p.m.,Aug. 9, the morning of Aug. 4, Lyon's army started back converging on the city in four columns fora to Springfield, completing the 26-mile march on daylight attack on Saturday, Aug. 10.Just as the afternoon of Aug. S. the army was preparing to move,a light rain began falling and McCulloch ordered the troops to lie on their arms but in readiness tomove, McCULLOCH ASSUMES realizing that a heavy rain would ruin their SOUTHERN COMMAND ammunition, which was none too plentiful. Meanwhile, the three Southern forces,after assembling near Cassville, began the march up LYON DIVIDES HIS ARMY AND MARCHES the Wire Road for Springfield on July 31 with TO ATTACK McCulloch's troops in the lead. By the evening of Aug.I, McCulloch's brigade had reached When Lyon returnedtoSpringfield from Crane Creek and gone into camp, with the other Curran Post Office, most of his troops camped two units arriving in the vicinity later.While about the city, while others acted as guards to encamped along Crane Creek, McCulloch was sealoffthe town and preventinformation reinforced by the timely arrival of Col. Elkanah regarding Federal dispositions from reaching Greer's South Kansas-Texas Mounted Regiment. theConfederates. Again advisedby Gen. On the morning of Aug. 4, in a meeting with Fremont inSt. Louis that no reinforcements Price and Pearce, at Price's request, McCulloch would be forthcoming, Lyon consulted with his reluctantly agreed to assume overall command senior officers whether to abandon Springfield

9 and retreat to Rolla, the end of the rail line.Guards to garrison the city against a surprise The majorityinthe council of war favoredConfederate cavalry attack, and with orders to falling back to Rolla in view of the overwhelm- have the wagons and bank deposits loaded for an ing numbers of enemy troops facing them, andorderlyevacuationiftherebels were not Lyon agreed. But the impetuous one-armed defeated. Gen.Sweenyarguedfor a battlebefore Lyon'scolumnwas madeupofthree retreating, and Lyon changed his mind.Lyon brigades: the First Brigade, commanded by thenannouncedthathewouldattacktheMaj. S. D. Sturgis, the Third, commanded by Lt. Confederates at daylight on Aug.10, hopingCol. G. L. Andrews, and the Fourth, commanded that a surpriseattackwouldnegatetheby Col. G. W. Deitzler.It consisted of:1st and Southerners' superior numbers. Col. Franz Sigel 2nd KansasInfantryRegiments; 1st Iowa persuaded Lyon to allow him to take his brigadeInfantry;1st Missouri infantry Regiment; 2nd on a flanking march around the enemy's rear inMissouri Infantry Battalion; two U.S. Regular an independent attack on the south end of theBattalions under Copts.J.B. Plummer and Confederate encampment. Lyon agreed to thisFrederick Steele; Co. D, 1st U.S. Cavalry; and plan for a simultaneous attack on both ends of Co.I, 2nd Kansas Infantry (Mounted). Lyon's the camp. artillery consisted of Co. F, 2nd U.S. Artillery About 6 p.m., Aug. 9, while Sigel's column(six guns) under Capt. James Totten and Du preparedto march toward the ConfederateBois' Battery (four guns) under Lt. John Du rightandrear,Lyon'scolumn moved outBois. This force totaled 4,200. westward along the Little York Road to a point Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch's Southern army opposite the north end of the rebel camp, wherewas composed of his own Confederate brigade Lyon cut south over the prairie.About Ia.m., of Louisiana, Arkansas infantry, and Texas and whenthe Union advance guard approachedArkansas cavalry,totaling 2,720, along with within sightofthe enemy campfires, LyonBrig. Gen. N. B. Pearce's Arkansas brigade of orderedthe columntohalt and restuntil infantry and cavalry, together with Woodruff's daybreak. By now the main body of the column ArtilleryBattery.(four guns) and Reid's wasabout3-1/2milesnortheastoftheArtillery Battery (four guns),totaling 2,234. unsuspectingConfederates. While the menThe Missouri State Guard, under Maj. Gen. were resting, Lyon's scouts penetrated to withinSterling Price, was divided into five divisions ashort distance of the enemy camps andunder Maj. Gens. James Rains, M. M. Parsons, discovered that the Southern pickets had been J.B. Clark, W. Y. Slack and James McBride, withdrawn. Guibor'sArtilleryBattery(fourguns),and Bledsoe's Artillery Battery (three guns), totaling 5,171. Thus, the total of the Southern army was ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMIES 10,125, plus about 2,000 unarmed Missouri State Guard following in the rear. Sigel'sSecond Brigadealso was onthe march, moving southwesterly down the Yoker- mill andDelawareRoads. Sigel'sforce consisted of the 3rd and 5th Missouri Infantry THE BATTLE BEGINS Regiments and six pieces of artillery of theI st Lyon's column pressed forward about I-1/2 Battery of Backoff's Missouri Light Artillerymiles after the advance guard made contact Battalion.Lyon also had ordered two mountedwith the Confederate pickets at dawn. About 5 companies to accompany Sigel: Company I,I st a.m., the battle began when the Federals drove U.S. Cavalry, commanded by Capt. E. A. Carr,off the Missourians outposting the ridge to the and Company C, 2nd U.S. Dragoons, under Lt.north of what was to be known soon as "Bloody C. E. Farrand.Sigel's total column numberedHill."As the Missourians retreated south to about 1,200. Lyon had left behind in SpringfieldBloody Hill, Lyon ordered Plummer and his 1st nearly 1,200 Christian and Greene County HomeU.S. Infantry battalion to cross Wilson Creek

10 and guard the left flank.The 1st Kansas and SIGEL'S COLUMN DEFEATED 1stMissouri composed Lyon's attacking force and charge up Bloody Hill, forcing the South- By 8:30 a.m., Sigel had established his third erners to retreat.The two regiments reached and final position near the Sharp house, blocking the hill about 6 a.m., with the rest of Lyon's the Wire Road.As Sigel waited for Lyon to column following closely behind. By this time,drive the Southerners back upon him, McCulloch Price and McCulloch, who were breakfastingmoved down the road toward Sigel's position. together, were fully alerted, and Price orderedSigel's men saw the gray-clad 3rd Louisiana in his divisions up Bloody Hillto meet Lyon'sthe vanguard and held theirfire, mistakenly attack. assuming that it was the friendly 1st Iowa from Lyon's column who were also in gray uniforms. By 5 a.m., Sigel had his artillery battery inThe 3rd Louisiana, along with some Missouri position on a plateau to shell the Southerner'sState Guard infantry, supported by the fire of cavalry camp, located in Sharp's corn field atBledsoe's and Reid's Artillery batteries, charged the south end of the rebel encampment.The Sigel's position.Sigel's surprised men ran off in 3rd and 5th Missouri regiments also were poised a panic in several directions, losing five of their awaiting Lyon's signal to attack. When Sigel six artillery pieces in the melee. The threat to heard the musket fire on Bloody Hill, he orderedthe rear of Price's troops on Bloody Hill ended his battery to open fire and began his advance,with the rout of Sigel. sweeping through the cavalry camp after the Southern cavalrymen had fled from his artillery bombardment. By 7 a.m., Sigel's brigade had LYON KILLED ON BLOODY HILL crossed Wilson Creek and Terrell Creek, and his troops were deployed in Sharp's corn fieldin On BloodyHillthere were charges and preparation to receive a cavalry attack.His countercharges during the early morning hours artillery from this second position continued to between Lyon's Federals and Price's shell the Southern cavalrymen until about 7:30 Missourians.Lulls and sporadic firing followed a.m., when the troopers fled. each attack.About 9 a.m., Price launched a massive attack allalong Lyon's front. The Meanwhile on Bloody Hill, shortly after the Federals werehardpressed and Lyon was battle opened, exchanges of artillery fire took slightlywounded twicewhilerallyinghis place between Totten's battery and Woodruff's troops. As some of his units retired to regroup, Pulaski Arkansas battery located east of Wilson Lyon ordered the Ist Iowa and the 2nd Kansas Creek.Early in the engagement Lyon ordered to attack, and led the leaderless 1st Iowa into Capt. Plummer and his U.S. Infantry battalionthe battle. At this point, about 9:30 a.m., Lyon to cross the creek and guard the left flank. By waskilledby abulletthroughtheheart, 7 a.m., Plummer became embroiled in a sharp although the Iowa and Kansas troops continued fight in Ray's corn field with the 3rd Louisianato press the assault relentlessly against Price's and the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, under line which backed down the hill to regroup. Col. James McIntosh.Plummer's small force The only cavalry charge of the battle came was soon forced to retreat back across Wilson about 10 a.m., when Col. Elkanah Greer's South Creek. Du Bois' Federal battery on Bloody Hill Kansas-Texas Mounted Regiment launched an turneditsguns on Plummer's pursuers and attack against the Union right and rear.The compelled the Confederates to retreat. The 3rd cavalry attack was easily dispersed by musket Louisiana retreated to the southeast, regrouped, volleys from several companies ofthe 2nd marched down the Wire Road, and was ordered Kansas in reserve in the rear and by artillery by McCulloch to attack Sigel. fire from Totten's battery.By this time, Maj. Samuel Sturgis was informed of Lyon's death

6 and assumed command of the Union forces, allwounded) out of more than 10,200 engaged. The the senior officers having been wounded and out Federalslost24 percent oftheir personnel of action. engaged, while the Southerners lost 12per- cent.Twenty-five percent of the combatants on Bloody Hill were casualties. THE FEDERALS RETREAT Some historiansbelievethatthe battle, TO SPRINGFIELD although a Union defeat, saved Missouri for the Union,becausethe victorious Confederates WhilePricereorganizedhistroopsforwere too battered and disorganized to mount an another attack, Gen. Pearce was ordered tooffensive in Missouri before Federal reinforce- take his 3rd and 5th Arkansas regiments toments could be rushed to the state.Certainly reinforce Price.With these additional troops,Wilson's Creek, along with Pea Ridge, is consid- Price launched the most vicious attack of theered to have been one of the two most impor- day againstthe Unionline. However, thetantbattles fought west ofthe Mississippi Federalline held firm, aided greatly by theRiver. accuratefirefromTotten'sand Du Bois' batteries. AboutIIa.m., Price ordered his troops to disengage and fall back.During the THE RETREAT TO ROLLA lullthat followed and with their ammunition almostexhausted,Maj.Sturgis orderedthe The defeatedFederals, now commanded Federalforcestoslowlyretreatbacktotemporarily by Sigel, began an orderly with- Springfield.By 11:30 a.m., the Federals haddrawal thenextafternoontowardRolla, begun an orderly retreat, covered by a rearaccompaniedby throngsofUnioncivilian guard andartillery. Price directed anotherrefugees. The Confederates entered Springfield attack, but as the Southerners advanced overafter its evacuation by the Federals, but made the abandoned Bloody Hill, they saw the last ofno attempt atpursuit. After remainingin the retreating Union column disappearing overSpringfield less than a month, Gens. McCulloch the next ridge to the north. There was no andPearcereturnedwiththeirtroopsto Confederate pursuit and the bitterly-contestedArkansas. Meanwhile,Pricemarchedhis battle was over. However, some SouthernMissouri State Guard north to begin on Sept. 12 cavalry had pursued Sigel's scattered troops anda nine-day siege of the 3,000-man Union garri- returned with a number of prisoners. son at Lexington, which surrendered Sept. 20.

HEAVY CASUALTIES IN A FREMONT RELIEVED OF COMMAND SIGNIFICANT BATTLE After the death of Lyon, the first Civil War The Battle of Wilson's Creek, or Oak Hills asgeneral to fall, and Price's victory at Lexington, theConfederatescalledit,wasthefirst much criticism was heaped upon Gen. important battle after Bull Run and there wasFremont.He was forced to take to the field no wholesale running away here.The battle with his personal bodyguard of about 200 under proved that green, volunteer troops could fight Maj. Zagonyi, and 20,000 regular Union troops. bravely and effectively in a cause they deeply In an effort to keep Price and the Confederates believed in.The casualties in relation to the from comingbacktoSpringfield,Fremont numbers engaged and the time frame (about marched from Jefferson City to Springfield. five hours), were extremely high. The Federals TheromanticandimpatientMaj.Zagonyi had 1,317 casualties out of 5,400 engaged.Of received permission to plunge on ahead with his these, 258 were killed, 873 wounded, and 186 guardsmen, andina much-publicized charge missing or captured. The Confederates dashed into Springfield Oct. 25, scattering the reported1,230 casualties (279 dead and 951 smallConfederategarrison. Fremonthad

7 hardly settledhislarge armyinSpringfield Missouri asits12th member. But this was when his critics prevailed and he was relieved meaningless.It was a government in exile, with of his command. He was replaced by Gen. no troopsand nomoney. TheMissouri Samuel Curtis, who would go on to fame and Confederate government in reality consisted of victory over a superior Confederate army at the governor and his staff, and was harried from Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in early March 1862. place to place in Arkansas, ending the war in Marshall, Texas. Although tortured by guerrilla warfare and periodic Confederate raids, after SECESSIONIST HOPES FADE 1861 Missouri was no longer in danger of being lost to the Union. After the victory at Lexington, secessionist hopes reached their peak in Missouri, butsoon faded.Price withdrew to the southwest corner of the state and the deposed Gov. Jackson called partof his deposed pro-SouthernSUGGESTED READING: legislature together at Neosho.There, at theBearss, Edwin C. The Battle of Wilson's Creek (1975). end of October 1861, the secessionists passed anHolcombe and Adams. An Account of the Battle of act delivering Missouri into the Confederacy, Wilson's Creek or Oak Hills. (Centennial Edition, and theConfederategovernmentadmittedAugust 10, 1961.)

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

8 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

OUTLINE OF THE TRAVELLING TRUNK PROGRAM

The Travelling Trunk can be used as a self-contained educational activityor in conjunction with other activities and/or your visit to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. Each trunk, whether for the United States Regular soldier or the Missouri State Guard soldier, will have a list of contents which shouldbe checked off against the items in the trunk upon receipt and before return to the park. The list belowis provided to give you some idea of the contents of these trunks and as such is more representative than complete. Please feel free to copy any of the printed materials in the trunk, whether primarysources and/or educational activities.

Outline of Contents: A.Checklist of contents. B. List of contents with associated descriptions bound in a folder. C.Clothing: including but not limited to different types of coats, shirts, hats, shoes, etc. D. Personal items: including but not limited to such items as mirrors, wallets, combs, pipes andto- bacco, cards and/or dice, writing materials, cooking and eating utensils,soap, tin cups, candles, toothbrushes, etc. E. Regularly issued military materials:cartridge and/or cap boxes, dummy rounds of ammunition, bayonet scabbard, haversack with hardtack crackers, parched corn, coffee, canteen, etc. F. Drill manual (Hardee's Tactics), selected excerpts. G.Primary sources: selected copies of and/or excerpts from letters, diaries, photos, andnewspaper articles. H.Video: depicts a typical soldier from the Civil War period engaged in usingmany of the items listed above. I. Educational Activities Packet: we have included these brief activities to facilitate student understanding of the life of a common soldier during the Civil War. HARD TIMES/HARD WAR PRE-VISIT OBJECTIVES/MATERIALS NEEDED

Any or all of the following activities may be selected by the teacher as appropriate pre-visit(or whenever they best serve your purposes) lessons for her/his particular class. Teachersmay either use their copy/ copies of this packet and/or the EDUCATORS' GUIDE as an instructional tool and/orcopy sections from either packet as appropriate for regular class activities.

I.Activity One, Parts One through Three: Upon completing this activity, the student will be able to:

1. identify and list the major events and situations before and during the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

2. identify and consider those individuals who played significant roles in the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

MATERIALS NEEDED: For historical background, see the enclosedcopy of Leo Huff's "The Struggle for Missouri" or Kenneth Elkins's account "The Battle" included in the EDUCATORS' GUIDE.The OFFICIAL MAP AND GUIDE for Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, also in the EDUCATORS' GUIDE, may also be useful. Feel free to copy these materials asnecessary.

II. Activity Two: Upon completing this activity, the student will be able to:

1. identify, in correct chronological order, the major events corresponding to the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Use and copy as necessary Huff's "The Struggle for Missouri,"Elkins's "The Battle," or the OFFICIAL MAP AND GUIDE.

III. Activity Three: Upon completing this activity, the student will be able to:

1. identify, list, and discuss some of the possible ways the people of Wilson's Creek, Springfield, and southwest Missouri were affected by troop movements and battles during the Civil War.

MATERIALS NEEDED: In addition to the materials listed above, pleasesee August Klapp's The Ray House and Edwin Bearss' The Battle of Wilson's Creek, both available at the battlefield.

IV. Activity Four: Upon completing this activity, the student will be able to:

1. critically analyze primary source documents to determine thecourse of a historical event.

MATERIALS NEEDED: In addition to the short accounts of the Battle of Wilson's Creek listed above, you will need the excerpts from Colonel Sigel's two reports (included in thispacket) on his involvement in the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Feel free to make copiesas necessary.

15 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Activity One, Part One

Fill-in-the-blank. Please complete the following historical statements by writing theappropriate term in the space provided to the left.

1. Elected in 1860,... wasthe pro-secessionist governor of Missouri at the beginning of the Civil War.

2. Early conflicts between the radically pro-Union Captain Nathaniel Lyon and Southern

sympathizers took place in the city of....

3. The first true battle of the Civil War in Missouri took place in. . . onJune 17, 1861.

4. The skirmish at... onAugust 2 not only led Confederate leadership to distrust General Price's Missourians, but also gave General Lyon a false impression of the fighting ability of the Rebel forces in southwest Missouri.

5. A light rain shower on August 9 kept Southern forces from attacking Lyon'sarmy in the city of...

6. Federal reports referred to the August 10th battle as Wilson's Creek, while the Rebels

knew it as the Battle of....

7. General Lyon was killed while leading Union forces in thearea that came to be known as ....

8. During the Battle of Wilson's Creek, the...lost a higher percentage of its men engaged in the battle than its opponent.

9. Technically, Wilson's Creek was a victory for the...Army because it held the field at the end of the battle.

10. The Battle of Wilson's Creek and the Battle of.. .in March, 1862 are generally consid- ered to be the two most important Civil War battles west of the Mississippi River.

16 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Activity One, Part Two

True/False:Please read each statement below carefully.If the entire statement is true, please circle the "T' in the left column. If any part of or the entire statement isfalse, please circle the "F" in the right column.

T or F 1. By December, 1860, the vast majority of the people of Missouriwere violently pro-Con- federate and thus eager to secede.

T or F 2. General Lyon's uncompromising attitude and zeal in oppositionto Governor Jackson's equally stubborn pro-secessionist stance, not only forced Missouriansto take sides but also made bloody civil war a bitter reality in Missouri.

T or F 3. On May 10, 1861, pro-Southern Missouri State Guard forces killed28 Union sympathizers in St. Louis.

T or F 4.General Lyon decided on a simultaneous, two-sided attackon Confederate forces at Wilson's Creek rather than an immediate retreat to Rolla.

T or F 5. Union forces at the Battle of Wilson's Creek outnumbered Confederateforces by over 2 to 1

T or F 6. Colonel Sigel's troops were routed when they mistook thegray uniforms of the 3rd Loui- siana for those of the friendly 1st Iowa.

T or F 7. The heaviest fighting during the Battle of Wilson's Creek took placein John Ray's cornfield.

T or F 8. Neither Union or Confederate artillery units playeda significant role in the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

T or F 9. Lyon was the first Union general to die in combat during the CivilWar.

T or F 10. Missouri had both Union and Confederate governments duringthe Civil War.

17 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Activity One, Part Three

Matching Names: Please match the individualson the left with their description on the right by plac- ing their associated letters in the appropriatespaces at the far left.

Frank Blair, Jr. A. Overall commander of Southern forces during theBattle of Wilson's Creek.

Sterling Price B. Missouri politician and staunch Unionist whosupported Lyon's actions in St. Louis.

N.B. Pearce C. Commander of Arkansas State troops at Wilson's Creek.

Benjamin McCulloch D. General Lyon's immediate superior, he refusedto send reinforcements to southwest Missouri.

Samuel Sturgis E. A former Missouri governor, he commanded the MissouriState Guard at Wilson's Creek.

John C. Fremont F. He assumed command of the Union forces at Wilson'sCreek after the death of General Lyon.

18 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Activity Two

Instructions: Listed below are some major events that tookplace in Missouri between February and October 1861. Organize them in their correct chronologicalsequence from earliest to latest and list them at the bottom of the page.

1. Skirmish at Dug Springs. 2. Siege of Lexington. 3. Missouri admitted as 12th member of the Confederacy. 4. Battle of Wilson's Creek. 5. Lincoln called for volunteers after the fall of Fort Sumter. 6. Battle of Carthage. 7.Blair & Lyon met with Price and Governor Jackson. 8. Battle of Boonville. 9. Camp Jackson Affair and riot in St. Louis in which28 civilians were killed by Lyon's troops. 10.Missouri Convention voted 89 to 1 to remain in the Union.

The Civil War in Missouri in 1861:

10.

19 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Activity Three

INSTRUCTIONS: Depending upon your class situation, haveyour students identify and list a given number of ways the people of Wilson's Creek, Springfield, and southwest Missouriwere affected by the Civil War.

This activity is intended to provoke thought, therefore there is noone correct answer or answers. A few of the possible ways civilians were affected might include:

1. Loss of crops and/or livestock due to military appropriation. 2. Damage to property from military use, either peaceful or during combat. Examples: the use of split rails for firewood and/or the loss of orchards due to gunfire. 3. Interruption of commerce. 4. The loss of loved ones, either by disease or as casualties ofwar. 5. The dire need for civilians to provide short and long term medical aid for wounded militaryperson- nel. 6. Civilian injury and/or death due to military activities. 7. Polarization of popular support for opposing sides due to real, exaggerated,or imagined military injustices. 8. The disruption of local law enforcement with a resultant rise in criminal activities, often thinlyveiled as legitimate military actions (i.e., guerrilla activities). 9. The disruption of educational activities. 10.Immediate political chaos with resultant long-term bitterness that would hamper the politicalpro- cess for years to come. 11.Conscription into the armed forces. 12. The need for civilians to provide food, clothing, and other material support totroops in the field as well as taxes. 13.Employment opportunities for civilians, such as work in arsenals and factories,or attached to the armies, such as teamsters and sutlers. 14. War time inflation and the rise in the cost of living, along withwar profiteering. 15.Interruption of communications. 16.Restriction on personal freedoms: speech, press, travel, habeascorpus. 17.Displacement of civilians, refugees fleeing advancing armies. 18. The fleeing of slaves in response to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Activity Four

INSTRUCTIONS: Read carefully the following excerpts, both of whichwere written by Union Colonel Franz Sigel about his role in the Battle of Wilson's Creek. What discrepancies exist between Sigel's firstaccount, written eight days after the battle, and the second account, written over twenty years later? What might besome possible reasons for these discrepancies? Second, drawing on both these eyewitness accounts, writea short version of Sigel's part in the battle. What precautions should we observe as historians when using such first-hand accounts,or primary sources? Why is it advantageous to have more than one first-hand account of the historical event? Finally, why must historians be carefulwith accounts written at such different times?

ANSWER KEY: Results will vary on this assignment, but note how Sigel'ssecond account lessens considerably his portion of the blame for the rout of his men. As for precautions,one should always be aware that first-hand accounts can be problematic because of personal biases and/or agendas, the limited perspectiveof individuals caught up in sweeping historical events, and the frequently dubious nature of humanmemory. We can, however, by drawing on more than one first-hand account, eliminate inconsistencies and create a more factual narrative of pastevents.

Eyewitness Account

Excerpt from the report of Colonel Franz Sigel in The Official Records ofthe War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume Ill, pages 87-88. Report dated August 18, 1861.

"This was the state of affairs at 8:30 o'clock in the morning, when itwas reported to me by Dr. Melchior and some of our skirmishers that Lyon's men were coming up the road. Lieutenant ColonelAlbert, of the Third, and Colonel Salomon, of the Fifth, notified their regiments not to fire on troops coming in this direction,whilst I cautioned the artillery in the same manner. Our troops in this moment expected with anxiety the approach ofour friends, and were waving the flag, raised as a signal to their comrades, when at once two batteries opened their fire againstus, one in front, placed on the Fayetteville road, and the other upon the hill on which we had supposed Lyon's forceswere in pursuit of the enemy, whilst a strong column of infantry, supposed to be the Iowa regiment, advanced from the Fayetteville roadand attacked our right.

It is impossible for me to describe the consternation and frightful confusionwhich was occasioned by this unfortunate event. The cry, 'They (Lyon's troops) are firing against us,' spread like wildfirethrough our ranks; the artillerymen, ordered to fire and directed by myself, could hardly be brought forward toserve their pieces; the infantry would not level their arms till it was too late. The enemy arrived within ten paces from the mouth ofour cannon, killed the horses, turned the flanks of the infantry, and forced them to retire. The troops were throwing themselves intothe bushes and by-roads, retreating as well as they could, followed and attacked incessantly by large bodies of Arkansasand Texas cavalry. In this retreat we lost five cannon, of which three were spiked, and the color of the Third Regiment,the color-bearer having been wounded and his substitute killed. The total loss of the two regiments, the artillery and the pioneers,in killed, wounded, and missing, amounts to 292 men, as will be seen from the respective lists.

In order to understand clearly our actions and our fate,you will allow me to state the following facts:

1st. According to orders, it was the duty of this brigade to attack theenemy in the rear and to cut off his retreat, which order I tried to execute, whatever the consequences may be.

2d. The time of service of the Fifth Regiment Missouri Volunteers had expiredbefore the battle.I had induced them, company by company, not to leave us in the most critical and dangerous moment, and had engagedthem for the time of eight days, this term ending on Friday, the 9th, the day before thebattle.

3d. The Third Regiment, of which 400 three-months'men had been dismissed, was composed for the greatest part of recruits, who had not seen the enemy before andwere only insufficiently drilled.

4th. The men serving the pieces and the drivers consisted of infantrytaken from the Third Regiment, and were mostly recruits, who had only a few days' instruction.

5th. About two-thirds of our officers had left us. Some companies hadno officers at all; a great pity, but the consequence of the system of the three months service." 21 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Second Account

Excerpt from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Volume I, 1887, pages 305-306.

"All these circumstancesthe cessation of the firing in Lyon's front, the appearance of the enemy's deserters, and the movement of Reid's artillery and the cavalry toward the southled us into the belief that the enemy's forces were retreating, and this opinion became stronger by the report of Dr. Melcher.. .that 'Lyon's troops' were coming up the road and that we must not fire. So uncertain was I in regard to the character of the approaching troops, now only a few rods distant, that I did not trust to my own eyes, but sent Corporal Tod, of the 3rd Missouri, forward to challenge them. He challenged as ordered, but was immediately shot and killed.I instantly ordered the artillery and infantry to fire. But it was too latethe artillery fired one or two shots, but the infantry, as though paralyzed, did not fire; the 3d Louisiana, which we had mistaken for the gray-clad 1st Iowa, rushed up to the plateau, while Bledsoe's battery in front and Reid's from the heights on our right flank opened with canister at point-blank against us. As a matter of precaution I had during the last moment brought four of our pieces into battery on the right against the troops on the hill and Reid's battery; but after answering Reid's fire for a few minutes, the horses and drivers of three guns suddenly left their position, and with their caissons galloped down the Fayetteville road, in their tumultuous flight carrying panic into the ranks of the infantry, which turned back in disorder, and at thesame time received the fire of the attacking line....

I remained with the right wing, the 3d Missouri, which was considerably scattered.I re-formed the men during their retreat into 4 companies, in all about 250 men, and, turning to the left, into the Fayetteville road, was joined by Captain Carr's company of cavalry. After considering that, by following the left wing toward Little York, we might be cut off from Springfield and not be able to join General Lyon's forces, we followed the Fayetteville road until we reached a road leading north-east toward Springfield. This road we followed. Captain Carr, with his cavalry, was leading; he was instructed to remain in advance, keep his flankers out, and report what might occur in front...So we marched, or rather dragged along as fastas the exhausted men could go, until we reached the ford at James Fork of the White River. Carr had already crossed, but his cavalry was not in sight; it had hastened along without waiting for us; a part of the infantry had also passed the creek; the piece and caissons were just crossing, when the rattling of musketry announced the presence of hostile forceson both sides of the creek. They were detachments of Missouri and Texas cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel Major, Captains Mabry and Russell, that lay in ambush, and now pounced upon our jaded and extended column. It was in vain that Lieutenant Colonel Albert and myself tried to rally at least a part of them; they left the road to seek protection, or make good theirescape in the woods, and were followed and hunted down by their pursuers. In this chase the greater part of our men were killed, wounded, or made prisoners, among the latter Lieutenant Colonel Albert and my orderly, who were with me in the last moment of the affray.I was not taken, probably because I wore a blue woolen blanket over my uniform and a yellowish slouch-hat, givingme the appearance of a Texas Ranger. I halted on horseback, prepared for defense, in a small strip of corn-fieldon the west side of the creek, while the hostile cavalrymen swarmed around and several times passed close tome. When we had resumed our way toward the north-east, we were immediately recognized as enemies, and pursued by a few horsemen, whose number increased rapidly.It was a pretty lively race for about six miles, when our pursuers gave up the chase. We reached Springfield at 4:30 in the afternoon, in advance of Sturgis, who with Lyon's troops was retreating from the battle-field, and who arrived at Springfield, as he says, at 5 o'clock. The circumstance of my arrival at the time statedgave rise to the insinuation that I had forsaken my troops after their repulse at Sharp's house, and had delivered them to their fate. Spiced with the accusation of "plunder," this and other falsehoods were repeated before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, and a letter defamatory of me was dispatched to the Secretary of War (dated February 14th, 1862, six months after the battle of Wilson's Creek).I had no knowledge of these calumnies against me until long after the war, when I found them in print.

In support of my statements, I would direct attention to my own reports on the battle and to the Confederate reports,espe- cially to those of Lieutenant Colonel Hyams and Captain Vigilini, of the 3d Louisiana; also to the report of Captain Carr, in which he frankly states that he abandoned me immediately before my column was attacked at the crossing of James Fork, without notifying me of the approach of the enemy's cavalry.I never mentioned this fact, as the subsequent career of General Carr, his cooperation with me during the campaigns of General Fremont, and his behavior in the battle of Pea Ridge vindi- cated his character and ability as a soldier and commander."

22 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR OUTLINE OF THE BATTLEFIELDVISIT

Please note that those activities marked with "*" beloware dependent upon staffing. Check with park personnel before including them in your itinerary.

I. Visitor Center

Your trip to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield should beginat the Visitor Center. Its museum displays,programs (a 13-minute film and a 6-minute battle map), hands-on articles,and bookstore take a minimum of 40 minutesto view, and will enhance your understanding ofyour visit to the the battlefield.

II. Ray House*

Your group will be allowed time to view the inside of theRay House and ask questions. National Park Service personnel will provide a short presentation that will focuson the pre-war lives of the Ray family, the fighting in the Ray cornfield, the use of the Ray house for medicalpurposes, and the political and economic effects of the Battle of Wilson's Creek and the Civil War on the Ray family.

III.Living History Demonstration*

National Park Service personnel will presenta brief program explaining the use of personal equipment and military uniforms at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, culminating in theloading and firing of a reproduction Civil War musket. Students will also be offered an opportunity to practice CivilWar artillery drill (non-firing) utilizing a full-scale artillery piece.

IV. Bloody Hill Tour*

Your group will be led on a walking tour of the Bloody Hillarea of the battlefield, scene of the heaviest fighting on August 10, 1861 and the death of Union General Nathaniel Lyon.Your tour leader will discuss the events which took place on Bloody Hill, as well as the tactics and personalities thatinfluenced these events. Please allow at least thirty minutes for this tour.

V. Battlefield Tour

The rest of the tour is self-guided and thus dependentupon the amount of time available to your group. The park brochure and numerous wayside exhibits locatedon the battlefield provide helpful insights into the events of August 10, 1861. Park rangers will be happy to offer suggestions aboutways to expand your exploration of Wilson's Creek. VI. Miscellaneous

Picnic tables are available near the Visitor Centeron a first come, first served basis. Rest rooms and water fountains are available at the Visitor Center. There are no rest roomsor water fountains along the Tour Road. Appropriate clothing and footwear are essential if your group plans to doanything outside the Visitor Center.

23 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR Visit Activity

MUSEUM DETECTIVE

Instructions: Have the students play museum detectives while they viewthe Visitor Center museum displays in order to answer the following questions. Students could do this individually or in teams.

1. What groups did Nathaniel Lyon fight against in his armycareer before he served in the Civil War?

2. When did General Lyon die?

3. What group in what city purchased a presentation sword for General Lyon in1861?

4. Who was the first Union general killed in battle during the Civil War?

5. How long did the Battle of Wilson's Creek last?

6. What skirmish on August 2,1861preceded Wilson's Creek?

7. How many Union field guns were used during the battle? Howmany Confederate guns?

8. What was the name of the Federal commander defeated at the Battle of Carthage?

9. When did General Lyon first arrive in Springfield?

10. Where did General Price win a battle in September,1861after Wilson's Creek?

11. Where did the pro-Confederacy faction of Missouri's government secede fromthe Union in October,1861?

12. Name at least two battles (other than Wilson's Creek) fought in Missouriand the year they took place.

13. What was the name of the pro-Confederacy governor of Missouriwho led the Missouri State Guard from Jefferson City to Boonville, and who fought at Carthage?

14. What was loaded in the spherical case shot used in cannons?

15. What crawled over the wounded Henry Martyn Cheavens after his initialmedical treatment?

16. Approximately how many men were wounded in the Battle of Wilson'sCreek?

17. What did most Missouri State Guardsmen wearas a uniform during the first year of the war?

18. What was the name of the road in front of John Ray's house?

19. Why did the Confederates stop their march on Springfieldon the evening of August 9,1861?

20. When was the bombardment of Fort Sumter?

24 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Answer Key: Activity One

Part One (Fill-in-the-blank): Part Two (True/False): Part Three (Matching): 1. Claiborne Fox Jackson 1. False B-Blair 2. St. Louis 2. True E-Price 3. Boonville 3. False C-- Pearce 4. Dug Springs 4. True A-McCulloch 5. Springfield 5. False F-Sturgis 6. Oak Hills 6. True D-Fremont 7. Bloody Hill 7. False 8. Federals or Union 8. False 9. Southern or Confederate 9. True 10. Pea Ridge, Arkansas 10. True

Answer Key-Activity Two

The Civil War in Missouri: chronological sequence (with dates).

1. Missouri Convention voted 89 to 1 to remain in the Union (March 9). 2. Lincoln called for volunteers after the fall of Fort Sumter (April 15). 3. Camp Jackson Affair and riot in St. Louis in which 28 civilianswere killed by Lyon's troops (May 10). 4. Blair & Lyon met with Price and Governor Jackson (June 11). 5. Battle of Boonville (June 17). 6. Battle of Carthage (July 5). 7. Skirmish at Dug Springs (August 2). 8. Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10). 9. Siege of Lexington (September 12-20). 10. Missouri admitted as 12th member of the Confederacy (November 28).

MUSEUM DETECTIVE ANSWERS 1. The Seminole Indians in Florida and the Mexican Army during the Mexican War. 2.August 10, 1861. 3. Pro-Union citizens of St. Louis. 4.Nathaniel Lyon. 5.About 6 hours. 6.Dug Springs. 7.16 Union, 15 Confederate. 8.Franz Sigel. 9.July 13. 10.Lexington. 11. Neosho. 12.Westport (1864), Lexington (1861), Athens (1861), or Fort Davidson (1864). 13.Claiborne Fox Jackson 14.Shrapnel (Iron or lead balls). 15.Maggots. 16.More than 1800. 17.Their everyday clothes. 18.Wire Road. 19.It rained, which would get ammunition wet. 20.April 12, 1861. 25 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR Post-visit Activity Five

OBJECTIVE: Upon completing this activity, the student will be able to:

1. recall and respond correctly to factual questions in a short quiz about the events surrounding the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Material for this quiz was drawn from the short histories of this battle written by Huffand Elkins as well as museum displays in the Visitor Center. Many of the answers can also be located in standard CivilWar reference materials. Feel free to copy the attached quiz as needed.

INSTRUCTIONS: All or part of the attached quiz may be administered for either regular or extra credit points.You may want to copy the entire quiz or just give part of it orally.

BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK QUIZ

1. For what reasons did the Rebel army camp at Wilson's Creek?

2. When did the Civil War begin and when was the Battle of Wilson's Creek fought?

3. What was the weather like on the day of the Battle of Wilson's Creek?

4. What was the Confederate name for the Battle of Wilson's Creek?

5. Where did the Telegraph, or Wire, Road come from and go to?

6. What was the uniform of the Missouri State Guard?

7. At what time did the Battle of Wilson's Creek start and how long did it last?

8. Who won the Battle of Wilson's Creek?

9. Who buried the dead and took care of the wounded when the fighting was over at Wilson's Creek?

10. Name the four commanding generals who led the troops at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.)

11. After the Battle of Wilson's Creek was Missouri a Union or Confederate state?

12. Abraham Lincoln was a member of what political party?

13. List four reasons why Missouri was an important state to control for both the Confederacy and the Union? (List several reasons). 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.)

14. Was Wilson's Creek the biggest Civil War battle in Missouri?

15. Name three "border" states during the Civil War. 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 26

BONUS QUESTION: Name one of the two Wilson's Creek generals who also led troops at the Battle of Pea Ridge. HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

QUIZ ANSWER SHEET

1.The Rebel army had marched up the Telegraph Road from Cassville, and by camping at Wilson'sCreek they had easy access to water, food (from the Ray, Sharp and other farms) as well as an easier march on the Wire Roadto attack Springfield.

2. Officially, the war began April 12, 1861, with the Rebel attack on Fort Sumter, Charleston, SouthCarolina. Wilson's Creek was fought nearly four months later on August 10, 1861.

3. Very humid with a temperature near 100 degrees Fahrenheit by noon.

4. The Union named battles after nearby bodies of water, while the Confederacy named battles afternearby geographical features or towns. The Southern name for this battle was "Oak Hills."

5. The Telegraph Road ran from St. Louis, where it was originally called the State Road, to Fort Smith,Arkansas. It was the only major road in southwest Missouri in 1861.

6. A trick questionthe Missouri State Guard had no uniforms. Due to a lack ofmoney and time, the state did not furnish its soldiers with uniforms.

7.The fighting began at 5:00 A.M. (first light) and continued for over 6 hours.

8. Technically, the Southern troops won, since the Union forces retreated and left the field of battleto the Southerners.

9. The burden of caring for the wounded and burying the dead normally fellon whoever won a battle. The Confederates would spend six days burying all the dead at Wilson's Creek.

10. Nathaniel Lyon, Sterling Price, Ben McCulloch and Nicholas Pearce.

11. Both. Missouri had two state legislatures as well as state representatives andsenators in both Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia.

12. Lincoln was a member of the Republican Party.

13. Missouri was strategically located along the vital waterways of the Missouri and MississippiRivers and at the mouth of the Ohio River. It shared common borders with the Union states of Iowa, Kansas, andIllinois, and the Confederate states of Tennessee and Arkansas. The state was also a rich source of agricultural products,minerals, and manpower.

14. No. The largest was the Battle of Westport, fought in late 1864 near Kansas City, involvingover 29,000 troops.

15. Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware.

BONUS: Ben McCulloch or Sterling Price.

27 HARD TIMES/HA D WAig,

Post-visit Activity Six

OBJECTIVE: Upon completing all or part of this activity, the student will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to analyze the social, political, economic, and military repercussionsand results of the Battle of Wilson's Creek, in either oral or written form.

INSTRUCTIONS: Depending on the time available to you, as well as the grade level, interests, and academicabilities of your students, you may want to pick and choose from the following list of discussion areas and then devoteas much time to each as you feel is appropriate. These areas might be covered in classroom discussion or assigned as research projects for individual or group research.

DISCUSSION/RESEARCH AREAS:

1. In what ways might the Battle of Wilson's Creek have affected the inhabitants in thearea of Wilson's Creek either before, during, or after the battle?(Focus:Economic, social and political results)

2. Would the inhabitants of Springfield and/or southwest Missouri have been affected any differently than those ofthe battle area? Why or why not? (Focus: Same as #1 above)

3. Why were so many officers wounded or killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek and throughout the Civil War? Whatmight have been the possible results of such tremendous losses? (Focus: Military results)

4. Why was the Battle of Wilson's Creek so important during the early part of the Civil War? What might have happened if the Confederate forces would have followed up on their victory at Wilson's Creek in larger numbers? (Focus:Military and political results)

5. Why do civil wars tend to be even more bitter and agonizing than other wars? Draw on examples from the Battle of Wilson's Creek, as well as the balance of the Civil War. (Focus:Social, political, economic, and military aspects and results)

6. Was General Lyon justified in his behavior in Missouri during the period of time before the Battle of Wilson'sCreek? How might things have been different if General Lyon had been more diplomatic and willing to compromise? (Focus:Political and military aspects)

7. What can we gain from studying our own Civil War? Could the United States have another civil war? What mightbe some possible causes and results?(Focus:Political, economic, social and military aspects)

28 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR SUGGESTED READINGS

Refer first to the bibliographies of the Battle of Wilson's Creek and Greene County contained within the Educators'Guide. For additional readings please see below.

Boatner, Mark. Mayo, III.The Civil War Dictionary, Revised Edition. New York: David McKay Co., 1959, 1989. One of the best Civil War reference works.

Brownlee, Richard. Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy: Guerrilla Warfare in the West, 1861-65. Baton Rouge:Louisiana State University Press, 1958. A complementary but more general work than Castel's Quantrill.

Castel, Albert. William Clarke Quantrill: His life and times. New York: Frederick Fell, 1962. Objective workon not only Quantrill but also the guerrilla war in Missouri.

Fellman, Michael. Inside War: The Guerrilla Conflict in Missouri during the Civil War. New York: Oxford UniversityPress, 1989. A detailed but very useful study of the guerrilla war.

Ingenthron, Elmo. Borderland Rebellion. Branson, MO: The Ozarks Mountaineer, 1980. Book III in the OzarksRegional History Series, this work extensively covers the war along the Arkansas-Missouri border.

Klapp, August K. The Ray House. Springfield, MO: Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation, 1987. Briefaccount of the Ray House and family before, during and after the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

Lathem, Frank B. The Dred Scoff Decision, March 6, 1857: Slavery and the Supreme Court's "Self Inflicted Wound." (Grades 9 and up). Informative account of the pre-Civil War case that helped set the stage for the Civil War.

Linderman, Gerald F. Embattled Courage: The Experience of Combat in the American Civil War. New York: The Free Press, 1987. A work that offers insights not only into what combat was like for the individual during the CivilWar, but how their expectations about war were so different from the grim realities of combat, and how they reconciled these differences.

Robertson, James I. Soldiers Blue and Gray. New York: Warner Books, 1988. A thorough, updated account of the life of the Civil War common soldier.

Stanley, Caroline Abbot. Order Number 11, a Tale of the Border. (Grades 9 and up). Deals with Union effortsto stop Confederate guerrilla raids and their results for civilians along the Missouri-Kansas border.

Wiley, Bell Irvin. The Life of Billy Yank. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1952, 1994.

. The Life of Johnny Reb. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1943, 1995. Wiley's classic works on the lives of common soldiers during the Civil War are still the standard referencesources and delightful to read.

29 HARD TIMES/HARD WAR

Comments and Suggestions

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, 6424 W. Farm Road 182, Republic, Missouri, 65738, phone (417)732-2662.

The staff of Wilson's Creek National Battlefield would once again like to thank you andyour students for participating in our educational program. Because our major focus is to provide the best possible learning experiencefor our visitors, whether as individuals or in groups, your assessment of our program will be most helpful. Please takea moment to evaluate each of the phases of our program in the section below and then make any general commentsor suggestions in the space provided. We would also appreciate learning about any ideas or activities that you have that effectivelyconvey the Civil War to your students. Your ideas and constructive criticisms will help us improve our educationalprogram and thus benefit your group, as well as many others in the future.

PROGRAM EVALUATION AREA OF EVALUATION POOR GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT

Initial contact/ Educational Guide

Pre-visit materials

Battlefield visit

Post-visit materials

Travelling Trunk

Video

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'U.S. Government Printing Office: 1996 555-526140072

30 PARKS AS CLASSROOMS GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION, WASHINGTON, D.C.

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